I was blocked from visiting Benue despite purely humanitarian mission — Peter Obi

..No safety guarantee for unannounced visitors to Benue — Gov Alia warns

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has voiced his dismay following the sudden cancellation of his planned visit to Benue State, originally scheduled for 14 April 2025.

In a statement released on Monday, Obi described the incident as “unsettling” and “deeply troubling,” expressing frustration over the manner in which the situation unfolded.

The trip was part of Obi’s ongoing humanitarian outreach, focused on providing support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and bolstering health and education efforts across affected regions. Prior to the aborted Benue visit, he had completed a successful engagement in Plateau State on Sunday, 13 April, where he interacted with displaced communities at the Bokkos IDP camp.

According to Obi, his approach to such visits is guided by protocol. He said he made efforts to formally notify the Benue State Government ahead of his arrival, as he typically does on similar missions.

He recounted how the Governor of Plateau State had received him warmly, offering logistical and moral support for his humanitarian work. But the situation in Benue took a different turn.

Obi claimed that he had tried repeatedly to contact Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia directly, but was unable to reach him. He eventually got through to the Governor’s aide-de-camp (ADC), who explained that Governor Alia was in high-level meetings and assured Obi that the governor would return the call by midnight. According to Obi, that return call never came.

Days later, Obi said he received a message from the ADC, stating he had still been unable to reach the governor. Obi described the lack of communication as “disturbing” but opted to proceed with his journey to Makurdi regardless, noting that while a meeting with the governor would have been courteous, it was not essential to the purpose of his visit.

However, events took a dramatic turn on the morning of the scheduled visit. While travelling from Jos, Obi’s security team came across a press statement reportedly issued by the Benue State Government, announcing the abrupt cancellation of his visit. While still discussing the situation with his team, the governor’s ADC sent him the same statement.

Obi pointed out that the statement from the Benue government laid out the very itinerary he had previously shared in advance with both the ADC and Benue’s security agencies via his own security personnel.

He stressed that the visit was purely humanitarian, intended to include stops at an IDP camp and a school under construction in Gboko, as well as engagements with nursing schools to reinforce his commitment to healthcare and education.

“My mission was to support those in need, not to engage in political activity,” Obi said. “Humanitarian work has been a part of my life long before I entered politics, and it will continue to be so.”

He recalled past humanitarian efforts, including his appeal to then-President Goodluck Jonathan for permission to travel abroad and assist in Haiti following the devastating earthquake there.

Calling for a more unified approach to national healing, Obi urged Nigerians to rise above partisanship and act in the national interest.

“May God guide us as we work to rebuild this country. We must rise above the politics of division and begin to act for the common good, especially on matters that affect the most vulnerable among us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia issued a warning to political figures and other groups planning unscheduled visits to the state, making it clear that entry into Benue without his prior approval would be considered a security risk.

In a separate statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor stressed the importance of protocol, especially in light of Benue’s ongoing security challenges.

“The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, wishes to inform the public that he is not expecting any high-profile visitor in the state today,” the statement partly read.

He advised that all political actors or those intending to host public gatherings must seek clearance in advance.

“Anyone planning to enter the state without the Governor’s prior knowledge should reconsider such plans, as their safety and security cannot be guaranteed,” the statement cautioned.

Governor Alia also addressed visits to IDP camps, stating that all individuals, groups, and organisations must obtain written permission from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) before accessing any of the facilities.